Bookmark this page

share this article

follow Us

Responding to criticism that many of his recent policies had an authoritarian bent, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has said that he has no predisposition to turn into an autocrat.

"Many people have called me authoritarian, but do I have the face of a dictator?" Jokowi said, which was greeted with chuckles by participants of the national pencak silak tournament in Lubang Buaya, East Jakarta, as quoted by tempo.co. Jokowi opened the tournament on Tuesday morning.

Jokowi was responding to criticism of his recent decision to issue a presidential regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on the disbandment of mass organizations that failed to adhere to state ideology Pancasila.

Following the issuance of the Perppu, the Law and Human Rights Ministry revoked the license of the Islamist organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI).

Together with a number of Islamist organizations, the HTI has challenged the decision by filing a complaint with the Constitutional Court.